With multiple articulations, 1200 samples and solo and ensemble modes, this unique virtual string instrument could be unlike anything you've heard before.
The Viola da Gamba is an old orchestra string instrument with 6 nylon sides and a range from C2 to C5. Its sound is rough and coarse - a wonderful addition to classical strings. Here's what the developers say about it.
"Our goal to digitally recreate the Viola Da Gamba and give it another modern expression was a success. Our Viola Da Gamba has become an amazingly independent instrument with its own unique character and a very organically rough sound. It is a great alternative to conventional orchestral string instruments."
What Is It?
The viola da gamba is a historical instrument from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It belongs to the family of string instruments and was mainly built and used in Italy, France, Germany and England. Today the viola da gamba is mainly used in "early music", which is gaining more and more attention.
It has 6 strings tuned in the typical baroque tuning of 415Hz. All strings are nylon strings. Due to this special mixture of strings the viola da gamba has its own character, which clearly differs from violin and cello. Especially because of the nylon strings the Viola da Gamba has its own unmistakable rough sound.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET
An exciting mix of microphones - the velvety sound of the Schoeps mics, Neumann U87 as well as Coles 4038 ribbon
Six articulations - beside arco, pizzicato, staccato, and spiccato, there are also unconventional articulations like arco-fragile, textures and xylo-mallet-hits
An extensive number of round robins - up to 16 with up to four dynamic layers
The ability to play a different amount of instruments - all articualtions can be played either as solo viola da gamba or as an ensemble trio with trio with 3 instruments
Additional fx - delay, chorus, amped and drive
Nine reverb types - beside several different sizes you get special types such as infinite and deep valley
Hollin Jones was classically trained as a piano player but found the lure of blues and jazz too much to resist. Graduating from bands to composition then production, he relishes the chance to play anything with keys.
A sometime lecturer in videographics, music production and photography post production, Hollin has been a freelance writer on music technology and Apple topics for well over a decade, along the way publishing several books on audio software. He has been lead writer at a number of prominent music and technology publications.
As well as consultancy, full-time journalism, video production and professional photography, he occasionally plays Hammond, Rhodes and other keys for people who ask nicely.
Hollin is Contributing Editor at Ask.Audio.
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